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Finally the first resale of an Island Estate home in Aventura had closed by Sunny Realty, one of the leading real estate company’s in Miami.

The 5 bedrooms, 6 and half bath, 6,184 sq.ft. house is located at 4028 Island Estates Drive in the prestigious gated community of Island Estates Aventura. Sitting on the wide open bay it offers unmatched views of the intracoastal waterway and Sunny Isles Beach. This home offers sophisticated and luxurious decorations including Cherry wood Brazilian floors, over sized island kitchen with marble counter tops and a breakfast area with custom wine/wet bar. The interior & exterior decor is a work of art with numerous designer details, crown moldings, sky high ceilings, fireplace. Over 2,000 square feet of outdoor deck is perfect for entertaining. In addition this home offers a cabana, infinity edge pool w/waterfall & private 80 foot deeded dock.

Lana Bell, founder and CEO of Sunny Realty, said she pointed her client, which used a trust to buy the property, to the waterfront homes in Aventura. “This was a great opportunity for my client”, said Lana. “I was very impressed with this home when I first saw it”. “It was an easy choice for my client since this home offered a lot of value at a great price”.

Lana Bell is luxury real estate professional specializing in high-end waterfront homes and oceanfront condominiums in the Miami area. If you’re looking to buy or sell your property, please call Lana for a consultation – 1.954.336.1016.

The low interest rates set by the Federal Reserve present some of the best opportunities for Miami real estate investment, according to some experts. Interviewed on Bloomberg Television, Boston Properties Chairman Mort Zuckerman said that the low interest rates have made his portfolio stronger and that being able to access financing at such low rates has provided a boost for the business.

Changing Priorities

It’s been a buyer’s market for a long time now and that fact hasn’t been lost on major investors like Boston Properties. According to Zuckerman, the company has been concentrating on buying properties instead of on developing properties that the company already owns. He noted that the board at his company managed to get a 3.85% interest rate on $1 billion and that the rate will extend for longer than ten years. Because of these low interest rates, the company has been able to invest and, therefore, to contribute some part of the overall recovery of the market.

Zuckerman also said that rising rents have not done as much to make Boston Properties more profitable as have the low interest rates. The market is improving in most regards but, with money coming at so low a price, it’s also a particularly good time for investors who want to secure capital to buy new property. Zuckerman said he has never seen interest rates so low during his career.

Development

Development generally requires a strong market, which Zuckerman points out in the interview. Investors in today’s market are likely to concentrate on acquiring properties while the costs of capital are low and, when the market starts performing at better levels again, development may follow. At the same time, however, rents have been going up and occupancy has been up for Boston Properties, which indicates that the market may be edging its way toward more profitability.

Investing in Florida real estate

Low interest rates meant that very desirable properties can be acquired for low costs, compared to what the cost of investment would have been not too long ago. The low cost of borrowing means that those who are in a position to invest can get in on interest rates that are, as Zuckerman pointed out, hovering around historic lows. With the cost of borrowing so low, it makes sense for investors to concentrate on acquisitions rather than on developing what they already have in their name.

If you’re interested in investing in the south Florida real estate market, remember that some of the properties may be available for very low prices, which makes the benefit of low capital costs even more pronounced. Talk to a realtor about the properties that may be the most desirable for investors. From condominiums to spacious estate properties, there is a great diversity of choices on the south Florida real estate market and, as one of the most well-known figures in real estate points out, the interest rates that investors can get today are not what can normally be expected and, in and of themselves, they present tremendous opportunities.

Builder confidence levels are going back up and, according to a survey conducted by Wells Fargo and the National Association of Home Builders, the levels are back up to where they were in February of 2007 for Miami oceanfront condos. In some areas of the nation, the improvements have not been so pronounced and, in others, there has been a decline in builder confidence but, overall, builders seem to be more optimistic about the future of their business.

The Gains

The builders were asked about their confidence in new single-family homes. The survey revealed that 37% of the builders had confidence in these properties, a level comparable to where it was in February of 2007. It also represents a climb of two percentage points compared to where confidence was last month.

Sales expectations were also up, coming in at 44%. There were overall gains in the housing market over the last month, which experts believe is contributing to the increased confidence that builders have in their homes.

The most significant gains in builder confidence were observed in the Midwest and the South. Other areas of the nation were not so optimistic, however. In the West, builder confidence dropped 3 points. In the North, builder confidence was down 9 points. Overall, however, builders seem to see a brighter future for new properties.

Despite the improvements, however, confidence among builders still remains negative. In the survey, a score of over 50% means that builders are confident overall. Below that and their confidence still isn’t in the territory that it would be in during the healthiest markets for new homes.

Improving Economy

The economy is not fully recovered yet, but the worst of the real estate issues that dominated headlines and people’s minds not too long ago seems to be in the past. Builders are showing more confidence that new homes will find buyers and, of course, that means that they are more likely to invest in constructing new homes.

The improvements come after July’s very impressive numbers from the same survey. In July, builder confidence went up a full 6 points, which was the most significant climb in over 10 years. While some areas of the nation may still be experiencing the kind of uncertainty that makes builders hesitate, the optimistic outlook in other pulls the overall confidence up and may indicate that builders will be looking to erect new properties at a quicker rate in the near future.

Buying New Homes

There are many new homes in Miami

and in other parts of Floridian market and there are still great deals on already-standing homes, due to the buyer’s market. Builders in the South Florida are among those who showed improved confidence in the market and, to be sure, Miami real estate market had improved dramatically over the past few years. Looking for a new home waterfront home in Miami may include more choices, going by the builders showing increased confidence and it may be a good time to take a look at what’s out there and what’s coming on the market soon in areas where builders are putting up new homes.

When you think of the term “foreclosure”, what comes to mind? Do you think a long, drawn out process of purchasing a home for an unrealistic low price at a risk? If you have no factual knowledge about foreclosures, chances are that you’ve gathered some incorrect information. A foreclosure is a legal process that occurs when a lender is trying to recover the amount of money owed on a property that the borrower has stopped making payments. Although this may sound simple enough, there are many myths about foreclosures that you should be aware of.

• A foreclosed home will need a lot work- Due to the amount of horror stories in circulation about foreclosed homes being demolished by the previous angry borrowers, there is a wide misconception that these homes will need a large renovation. In reality, in most cases a foreclosed home will only need minimal cosmetic work done such as new carpet, paint, or fixtures.

• A foreclosed home cannot get an inspection before purchased- This statement only pertains to county auction foreclosures. Most bank-owned properties sell the foreclosures “as is” and want to avoid liability in the future so an inspection is often encouraged.

• Most foreclosures are due to homeowners walking away from the mortgage- Many people think that homeowners just walk away from their properties when they cannot pay the mortgage. A very small percentage of homeowners voluntarily walk out of the properties in reality.

• Buying a foreclosure is risky- This statement is only true when buying a foreclosed home at a county auction. There is a potential risk of the home not being up to par because of the lack of an inspection and the new owner taking on the former owner’s liens. However, purchasing a bank owned foreclosure is no more risky than purchasing any other properties for sale.

• Foreclosures are sell at extreme discounts- There are many misinformed potential buyers that believe that they will purchase a foreclosure at more than half off the value of a similar non foreclosed home. Although many foreclosures are priced at a discount, there are more closely priced to similar homes on the market that aren’t in foreclosure.

• You must pay in cash for a foreclosure- This statement is often true only when it comes to purchasing at a county auction. When purchasing a bank owned foreclosure, buyers are able to obtain financing as if they were buying any other home. In few cases, the bank will prefer cash buyers if they believe that it will be hard for the buyer to obtain financing due to the condition of the house.

This is a guest blog post from Kevin Hughes. About The Author: Kevin Hughes, a Boise real estate agent, assists buyers and sellers throughout Idaho. He is dedicated to helping people find Boise homes, Eagle homes, Meridian homes, and Nampa homes.

Some see it as positive news some are still skeptical about Miami real estate, but the median sales price for condominiums in Miami rose 18% in November 2011. This is the fourth consecutive year-over-year increase, according to a report by the Miami Association of Realtors. Miami’s housing inventory continued its steep decline last month, with sales of single-family homes jumping 11 percent and condo sales increasing 2 percent compared to the same period in 2010. “Residential real estate sales in Miami have consistently risen in Miami-Dade since August 2008,” said Jack Levine, chairman of the board of the Miami Association of Realtors. “Now, after the relatively rapid absorption of excess housing inventory, we are seeing property prices follow the same pattern.” In Broward County, the median sales price for condos rose 19 percent, with an 18 percent increase for single-family homes.

Couple that with strong per-construction sales data and it’s almost like going back to 2004. There were more than 500 preconstruction contracts and reservations which were collected at the six newly proposed condo towers in the tricounty South Florida region.

The preconstruction purchase commitments represent at least 46 percent of the 1,150 proposed units currently being marketed for presales in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, according to a new survey of planned developments conducted by the licensed Florida real estate brokerage CVR Realtyâ„¢.

“Buyer demand for the newly proposed condo towers appears to be stronger than most people would probably think given today’s economic climate and remaining unsold developer inventory from the last South Florida real estate boom. The survey suggests that every proposed project is currently selling at prices between $300 and $440 per square foot for the lower-end projects and between $800 and $1,500 for the higher-end projects in Sunny Isles Beach.

On a project-by-project basis, leading the way in presales is the proposed 96-unit 23 Biscayne Bay tower – which began construction in June 2011 – in the Biscayne Boulevard Corridor of Greater Downtown Miami that has presold 100 percent of the planned units, according to the survey.

The proposed 192-unit MyBrickell tower in the Brickell Avenue Area of Greater Downtown Miami has presold more than 70 percent of the planned units, according to the survey.

The proposed 49-unit Apogee Beach tower – which began construction in December 2011 – in the city of Hollywood in Southeast Broward County has presold more than 61 percent of the planned units, according to the survey.

The proposed 369-unit Sky Palace At Mary Brickell Village project in the Brickell Avenue Area of Greater Downtown Miami has presold some 51 percent of the planned units, according to the survey.

The proposed 374-unit BrickellHouse tower in the Brickell Avenue Area of Greater Downtown Miami has presold some 21 percent of the planned units, according to the survey.

The proposed 70-unit Bellini At Williams Island tower – which began construction in December 2011 – in the city of Aventura in Northeast Miami-Dade County declined to provide presale figures, according to the survey.

An additional 14 projects with more than 3,000 units have been proposed for the South Florida area but have not yet begun presales, according to the report.

Fueled by a surge in cash buyers from overseas and prospects of Las Vegas-style casinos being permitted in South Florida, developers are proposing a combined 20 new towers in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties with 10 projects in Greater Downtown Miami, four towers in Sunny Isles Beach, two towers in Miami Beach, two towers in West Palm Beach, and one tower each in Hollywood and Aventura.

Please contact Sunny Realty for more information: 1.877.368.2318 or info@SunnyRealty.com

If you’re interested in buying property in the Miami real estate market

there have been several shifts in the financing world that have made it possible to do so again. They include creative types of financing that allow you to get in on good deals on Miami luxury properties.

The Situation

When the mortgage boom was in full swing, there were plenty of different sources of financing available to buyers. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were both very loose with their lending and there were plenty of private lenders in the business.

Of course, this turned out to have some unforeseen consequences to it that led to the mortgage crash in 2007-2008. This made the banks tighten up their lending practices and resulted in a situation where many people found themselves having a hard time of it when they looked for ways to finance real estate purchases. Fortunately, there are creative ways to fund a purchase available at present and many investors are turning to them to fund their real estate transactions.

What You’re Up Against

At the time when the lending frenzy was in full swing, anyone with a pulse and the ability to sign the proper forms could get a mortgage, even if it was unlikely that they could actually afford the property they were taking out lending on. Today, the market is much tighter. Credit scores have to be very high to qualify for lending and the restrictions of mortgages are much tighter in terms of what they can be used to finance. It’s exceptionally difficult to get a hard money loan these days and banks are unwilling to fund the costs of listing fees and the other expenses involved in moving properties.

Making a Deal Work

If you have securities, you can look into getting funding against these assets. There are some significant advantages to this form of funding, aside from the fact that it makes it possible to get a loan for a house.

Both types of assets, securities and real estate, can appreciate, which allows the buyer to get a solid investment on both ends of the transaction. Because you don’t have to take out the securities, you can stay active in that market and get funding for a home at the same time.

Interest

With any type of lending, of course, the amount you pay in interest is a paramount concern. The security based lending options have different interest levels depending upon the amount you finance.

With a lending amount of between $100K and $250K, you’ll be looking at an average interest rate of around 5.25%. That number drops with higher amounts, with a lending amount of $1M having approximately 3% interest as a starting figure. There are other interest options available, of course, including fixed and variable.

For most people, the lower limit on this type of lending will be $100K. There is no maximum limit on the amount you can borrow. The terms of this type of borrowing is usually 3 years. In most cases, you will be able to close the loan without any fees or penalties being incurred.

Advantages

This is not a credit score based type of lending. It’s a document-free type of lending since it’s backed by your securities. Most lenders can close these loans in 5 days, sometimes slightly more. There are also no out-of-pocket costs involved with this type of lending, making it even more attractive to many buyers looking to get into the rapidly growing market at present.

What Can I Use?

You can use US Treasury notes, government agency bonds, municipal bonds and many other forms of securities to take out this form of lending. What you cannot use are foreign exchange securities, SBLCs, MTSs, stocks that haven’t any real trading volume, restricted stocks, private company stocks or other real estate. There are a host of products that are available to be used for this type of lending, so it’s always worth it to ask if it’s available to you with your existing securities.

What It’s Used For

Many investors are using this type of funding to make outright purchases of Miami Beach condos. The desirable terms and absence of penalties for early payoffs make it particularly suitable for these activities.

It can also be used for bridge loans, which are great if you plan on moving into a more desirable form of lending. Because security-based lending has desirable terms, anyway, it eliminates the need to take a very undesirable loan out to act as a bridge and, thus, eliminates much of the stress from this strategy, as well as much of the expense!

It may also be possible to deduct your carrying costs if you’re using your portfolio to purchase real estate. These, and many other advantages, are making this strategy very popular with those individuals getting back into the real estate market.

Roughly about 3.5 hours away from Miami and on the west coast of Florida sits the relaxing yet sophisticated beach town of Sarasota. This area boasts 35 miles of gorgeous beaches. In fact, Siesta Key beach was recently named the 2nd prettiest beach in the United States by Dr. Beach. Sarasota Florida real estate is popular for northerners who wish to escape the harsh, cold winters.

Siesta Key

Siesta Key is a gorgeous 8 mile long barrier island off the coast Sarasota. It is known around the world for the powdery white sands that is 99% quartz. Siesta Key beach is ranked by many as one of the prettiest beaches in the world. Siesta Key real estate is very diverse. You can find a modest and affordable condo within walking distance to the beach all of the way up to a palatial waterfront mansion or luxurious condo penthouse overlooking the beach and waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Longboat Key

Longboat Key is an 11 mile long barrier island off the coast of Sarasota and Bradenton. It has a slightly different feel than Siesta Key. You will be amazed by its beauty and tranquility. Longboat Key condos are a popular among northerners who want a winter escape. The beach is littered with magnificent condos that offer breathtaking views of the beach and water. Longboat Key is a bit more private than Siesta Key. The beaches are very peaceful and quiet. You can walk along the beach and see very few people. It is paradise.

Lido Key

This smaller island sits between Siesta Key and Longboat Key. It is roughly 2 miles away from downtown Sarasota. On a pretty day you will see many people walking or running over the Ringling Bridge from downtown to Lido Key for a little exercise or just to capture some phenomenal water, city and islands views. St. Armands Key is where you will find the world famous St. Armands Circle. This is a great place to enjoy a meal at an outdoor cafe, do a little shopping, spend the day at a spa or just grab a tasy ice cream at Kilwins and do some people watching.

Sarasota, Florida is a great place to get lost for a weekend. It is a short drive from Miami and a great place to unwind your knots.

Palm Island, FL

is a small community located on a series of islands just off the coast. This location is highly sought after as it offers a tranquil environment very close to Miami. In fact, one can see the skyline of downtown Miami from any Palm Island real estate. This community has about 200 homes, a resort and an abundance of nature activities in which residents can lose themselves when they have some time to relax. The waters around the island are clear and warm and lend to the location the feel of a Caribbean island. The islands are all interconnected.

Palm Island Home owners

make their way to the mainland either by boat or by the ferry that makes daily runs between the island and the shore. There is no bridge or causeway that allows vehicles to be driven back and forth. This has allowed the island to remain delightfully free of crowds and absent the hassles that come with traffic migrating to the island from the city. It’s also made it possible for the island to serve as a habitat for some of the ocean’s most fascinating wildlife.

Palm Island properties

have become very much a part of the effort to bring the sea turtles back from the brink of extinction. Today, the island serves as one of their mating grounds. Groups of people go out to watch the turtles—without disturbing them, of course—as they gather on the beach during their mating season. This is a big part of Palm Island culture and residents even make efforts to reduce unnecessary lights on the beach so that the hatchlings can make it out to the ocean safely during the night. The manatee population is also very much a concern for the residents of this island.

The properties for sale on Palm Island

have historically been very sought-after. Because they are in a limited amount and because this island does offer a great deal of tranquility despite its being close to urban areas, houses for sale here are typically in very high demand whether they be sought for permanent residences or for Miami vacation homes. The resort is also a large draw though the fact that one must have water transportation to reach the island keeps the crowds low and the environment peaceful. By boat, it is a roughly 10 minute commute to the mainland, a short distance to have such tranquility.

There’s a huge difference between a resort hotel and a condo hotel. Namely, this room is always ready and available to you when you make your way to relax in St. Regis Bal Harbour, Florida.

The St. Regis is conveniently located

right across the street from the Bal Harbour shops. The shops feature several high profile stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. The residence features three towers spanning 322 feet, 26 feet each. There are several sizes of condos available to meet your personal and family needs.

This condo hotel is unique in that 36 of the residences will be hotel condos that feature one large luxurious bedroom with a living room and two baths. They will also feature north and south ocean views. The remaining residences are to be 300 condos and then there will be 219 traditional hotel rooms. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Condo Hotel is intended to have a five star rating.

The St Regis Condo Hotel Bal Harbour Florida began construction

in the spring of 2008. It will be taking the place of the 50 year old Sheraton Bal Harbour hotel. The property will offer several amenities to residences including butler service, concierge service, the Remede spa and a fine dining restaurant. Expected to be open for business in 2011.

You know at least this much

it’s time to visit Sunny Isles Beach real estate, South Beach real estate, Miami Beach real estate and Bal Harbour real estate. These are some of Florida’s most beautiful and scenic locations and the spring and summer seasons are fast approaching. Whether you want to vacation in this lovely region, live here permanently or start investing in local real estate, now is the time to plan a trip to the Sunshine State. However, the pressing issue may well be should you rent or should you buy?

You’re probably very concerned

about the economy right now. You may have even second guessed the idea of taking a trip down to Florida right about now. This stage of the market is certainly volatile. Some have found that buying property is too much of a risk. On the other hand, some have found that the market is currently asking for record low prices, so they have been able to take advantage of the situation.

If you are too nervous

to think about buying then renting a property in Sunny Isles Beach, South Beach, Miami Beach and Bal Harbour may be a compromise. You could find a great rental opportunity in this beach covered region, whether looking for a luxury waterfront condo, an apartment or South Beach oceanfront condo that overlooks the shimmering beaches.

It’s easy to appreciate

the advantages of renting. It’s far less expensive than buying property and the responsibility of upkeep and maintenance falls in the hands of someone else. Renting is the ideal way to enjoy your vacation or extended visit. You might ask the question whether you are planning to visit these beach areas once a year over a decade or two-decade time period. If so, you may discover that buying a property (especially right now) would be more practical in the long run.

For more information and to view all currently available listings please click the corresponding links to Sunny Isles Beach condos, South Beach condos, Miami Beach condos and Bal Harbour condos.